Electric timing and counting device



ELECTRIC TIMING AND COUNTING DEVICE Or'i ihai Filed March 9. 1952 l l I l I J I l S l I i 5 I I I I I I I E I l I I I I I i I I l I i I i i Inventor: I I I I I l Alan 5. FitzGeraId I I I I I o i I i E 3! l 4! kl M E {9LRMIZ KM CYCLE$ H IS ALLOTTIQQ Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE ELECTRIC TIMING AND COUNTING DEVICE Alan S. Fitz Gerald, Wynnewood, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York 4 Claims.

This application is a division of my application, Serial No. 597,855, filed March 9, 1932, and both applications are assigned to the same assignee. My invention relates to electric timing and counting devices and concerns particularly the employment of electrical means including discharge tubes as counting or timing elements. It is an object of my invention to provide apparatus responsive to time or time differences for controlling the timing of operations.

It is another object of my invention to provide a frequency converter or frequency divider for use in alternating current circuits and particularly for use when the ratio of conversion is large, This divisional application is directed primarily to frequency converters or frequency dividers, but other and further objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In carrying out my invention in its preferred form, two alternating-current circuits having an integral ratio between their frequencies are tied together by a condenser-type cycle-counting device. A charge-transferring condenser, a chargecollecting condenser, and current controlling devices, for example, electric discharge tubes, are so connected in relation to a source of charging current that the charge-transferring condenser is alternately charged and discharged at the frequency of the controlling frequency circuit, and charges are successively transferred to the charge-collecting condenser, which discharges after each group of a predetermined number of cycles of the controlling frequency circuit and initiates a cycle of the controlling frequency circuit. The features of my invention which I believe to be novel and patentable will be pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

My invention itself, however, will be best understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 represents schematically one form of counting or timing device which may also be used as the basis for frequency converting apparatus; Fig. 2 is a curve explaining the action of the apparatus; and Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram of a frequency-dividing arrangement including a modified form of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

In the arrangement of Fig. 3, the frequency of alternating current generated in an inverter is controlled by the frequency of an alternating-current circuit connected to the transformer Winding 26 and having a frequency which is a predetermined multiple of the frequency to be produced by the inverter 45. The two frequencies are tied together by a condenser-type impulse counter, which initiates a cycle in the inverter 45 whenever a predetermined number of cycles of the circuit connected to the transformer winding 26 have been counted. The cycle counter included in the frequency-dividing arrangement may be either of the type disclosed in Fig. 1 or in Fig. 3, in which a condenser 16 or [6' discharges periodically to initiate a cycle in the inverter 45. In order that the general operation of the apparatus of Fig. 3 may more readily be understood, the cyclecounting arrangements of Figs. 1 and 3 will first be described. In the arrangement shown in Fig. l a charging current is supplied by a source which may, if desired, be a constant potential direct current source having a positive terminal II and a negative terminal l2. A charge transferring condenser I3 is connected to the source of current through a current controlling device, preferably a grid controlled discharge tube l4. A second current controlling device, preferably also a grid controlled discharge tube l5 and a charge collecting condenser l6 are connected in series across the terminals of the charge transferring condenser I3. Although I have shown a source of direct current for charging the condenser I3, my invention is obviously not limited thereto as an alternating current source can also be employed when a discharge tube or other inherently rectifying means is utilized as the current controlling means M.

The tube l4 has its plate I! connected to the positive terminal ll of the direct current source and its cathode l8 connected to a terminal of the condenser E3. The passage of current through the tube I4 is controlled by the potential of the grid l9. Similarly, the tube I5 is provided with a plate 20 connected to cathode l8 of tube [4, a cathode 2! connected to one terminal of charge collecting condenser 16, and a control grid 22. The control grids l9 and 22 are normally biased to a potential below that of the corresponding cathodes l8 and 2| by means of suitable sources of voltage such as cells 23 and 24.

The potentials of the grids I9 and 22 are controlled by means of a transformer 25 having a primary winding 26 and oppositely connected secondary windings 21 and 28. The primary winding 26 may be connected to a source of alternating current causing the potentials of the grids l9 and 22 to vary oppositely in regularly recurring cycles.

Any suitable means responsive to the voltage across condenser I6 may be employed to give a response after a predetermined number of impulses have been given to the apparatus, after a current has flowed through winding 26 for a predetermined number of cycles or after a predetermined time has elapsed. Such means will be described more in detail in connection with Fig. 3.

As the polarities of the voltages produced by windings 2'! and 28 reverse, the potentials of the grids I9 and 22 will vary alternately from potentials negative with respect to the cathodes I8 and 2| respectively to potentials positive with respect to the cathodes, thereby causing the tubes I4 and I5 to become alternately conducting and nonconducting. Since the windings 21 and 28 are oppositely connected tube I4 will be conducting when tube I5 is non-conducting and vice versa. Tubes I4 and I5 may be of any suitable type employing control grids including either the vacuum or vapor are types. In either case the passage of current is controlled by the potential of the grids. Although I prefer to utilize grid controlled discharge tubes, my invention is not limited thereto but obviously includes the use of any suitable type of current controlling means.

Fig. 2 illustrates the action in case tubes of the Vapor arc type are employed in which case each tube will conduct during one-half cycle and be non-conducting during the other half of the cycle of an alternating current source supplying winding 26, and the tube will change abruptly from non-conducting to the conducting condition as the grid becomes positive with respect to the cathode. During one-half cycle current will flow into the condenser I3 charging it to the potential existing between terminals II and I2. During the next half cycle tube I4 will be non-conducting, tube I5 will become conducting and the charge will be transferred from condenser I3 to condenser I6. If the condenser I6 has a greater capacity than condenser I3, a number of charges may be transferred from condenser I3 to condenser I6 before the potential of condenser I6 begins to approach that of the direct current source III2. In Fig. 2 the potential of condenser I6 is plotted against time measured in cycles of an alternating current source supplying winding 26. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that during one half cycle as current is flowing into condenser I6 the potential across condenser I6 gradually rises following an exponential curve. During the next half cycle when tube I5 is nonconducting the potential will remain fixed, resulting in a series of curved and flat portions with steps at the points A, B, C, and D. If apparatus is connected to the condenser I6 which becomes conducting when the potential across condenser I6 equals that represented by the point D on the curve Fig. 2, the apparatus will respond after four cycles of alternating current have flowed in the winding 26.

In Fig. 3 I have shown another manner of connecting the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. In this case the condensers are connected in series instead of in parallel and are designated by the reference characters I3 and I6. Condenser I3 has one terminal connected to the mid-point of a resistor 36 which joins cathode I8 of tube I4 to plate 20 of tube I5. Accordingly, a series circuit is formed from positive terminal II of the direct current source through tube I4, a portion of resistor 36, charge transferring condenser I3, charge collecting condenser I6, back to negative terminal I2 of the direct current source.

When the tube I4 becomes conducting currents will flow, charging condenser I3 and I6. Initially, the distribution of potential between condensers I3 and I6 will depend upon the relative capacities of the condensers. When tube I5 becomes conducting condenser I3 will be discharged but the charge collected by condenser I6 will be retained. Each time tube I4 becomes conducting and condenser I3 is charged condenser I6' will be raised to a higher potential which is the same result produced by the arrangement shown in Fig. 1.

Either form of the cycle-counting apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 3 may be utilized as the basis of other apparatus requiring timing means or counting means for its operation. It will be apparent that the number of impulses required to give a response is determined by the relative capacities of condensers I3 and I6 or I3 and I6, by the voltage of the source III2, and by the voltage at which the controlled apparatus is set to respond.

Fig. 3 represents also an arrangement in which an alternating current of one frequency may be converted to another of a lower frequency. After a predetermined number of cycles of one alternating current circuit, an impulse is produced which initiates a cycle in another alternating current circuit. In this arrangement additional apparatus is employed which times the second alternating current circuit in response to the frequency of the first alternating current circuit. After a predetermined number of cycles, the potential of condenser I6 raises the potential of the plate M and the grid 42 of a discharge tube i 39 to the point where the tube 39 becomes conducting and the condenser I6 is discharged through the tube 39 and the resistor 40.

The momentary flow of current in resistor 40 momentarily creates a potential difference between the ends of the winding 44 of a transformer. After the condenser I6 is discharged the operation of the cycle counting device is repeated until the potential of the condenser I6 again reaches the predetermined value so that it is discharged through resistor 40 and another impulse is produced in winding 44 of the transformer. This operation is repeated indefinitely. An inverter 45 of any suitable type is provided in which each impulse of the winding 44 is arranged to start a flow of current in a suitable circuit in a reverse direction each time, thereby producing alternating currents having a fequency bearing a definite ratio to the frequency of the current flow in Winding 26 of transformer 25.

I may, for example, use an inverter of the peak excitation type employing a pair of electric valves or discharge tubes 46 and 41 preferably of the vapor arc discharge type. The power required by the inverter is supplied by a direct current source 48. The tubes joined by a reactor 49 are connected in series across the terminals of the direct current source 48. A condenser 50 and a load 5I in series form a circuit from the midpoint of reactor 49 to one terminal of the direct current source 48. The tubes 46 and 41 have control electrodes, shown in the form of grids 52 and 53, which are normally negatively biased with respect to the cathodes of the tubes by means of batteries 54 and 55 respectively. The batteries 54 and 55 are connected to the secondary windings 56 and 51 which are in inductive relation with the winding 44.

Secondary windings 56 and 51 have voltages induced in them by the momentary flow of current through winding 44 which occurs whenever the condenser H is discharged. The windings 56 and 51 are so connected that these momentary voltages raise the potentials of the grids 52 and 53 momentarily above the potentials of the corresponding cathodes thereby making the tubes conducting in response to impulses sent through winding 44 from condenser l6.

Although the grids 52 and 53 of tubes 46 and 4! become positive simultaneously causing both the tubes to be in a conducting condition at the same time, current actually flows in only one of the tubes at a time. The action is as follows: Assuming that the condenser 58 is initially discharged, when the voltage peaks are impressed on grids 52 and 53, the tubes become conducting momentarily. Owing to the fact that the circuit including the portion 490:. of reactor 49, the condenser 50 and load 5| in series with direct current source 48 has a lower inductive reactance as a result of the capacity 50 than the circuit which includes the other portion 49b of the reactor 49, a current will tend to build up in the portion 49a before it does in the portion 49?). Since both portions have a common magnetic circuit, the same back voltage will be induced in each portion. The back voltage induced in 491) will be suflicient to suppress the current which would tend to start flowing in 491) and tube 45.

Owing to the inductive inertia effect on the current flowing in 49a, condenser 50, and load 5|, which may be a tuned circuit, current will continue to flow after the condenser 50 has reached the potential of the direct current source 48. Consequently, condenser 50 will reach a potential higher than that of source 48 so that ultimately the current in tube 41 and reactor portion 4%. is suppressed regardless of the conducting condition of tube 41. Since the tube 41 can pass current in only one direction, the condenser 50 cannot discharge through tube 41 back into the source 43.

The next time tubes 46 and 4'! become conducting, condenser 50 will discharge through tube 48 causing a reversal of the current flowing in the load 5|, but no current tends to flow from source 43 through tube 4'! since the condenser 50 is at a higher potential than the source 48. The subsequent time the tubes become conducting current will again flow through tube 41, reactor portion 49a, condenser 5!], and load 5|, tending to charge the condenser 5!] and suppressing as a result of the back voltage any tendency for current to flow in tube 46. In this manner the operation continues with the current flowing alternately in tubes 41 and 46 and the direction of current in load 5| being reversed each time the tubes become conducting. Although not essential to the operation it is desirable to choose values of inductance and capacity which provide a tuned circuit in order to obtain a current in load 5| having a sine wave shape. This action is repeated indefinitely and accordingly an alternating current is produced in the load 5| having a frequency which bears a predetermined relationship to the frequency in the source supplying winding 26 of transformer 25. Although I have shown the apparatus in connection with an inverter of the peak excitation type which is well known in the art, it will be understood that my invention is not limited thereto and may be used to control the operation and frequency of any suitable type of inverter.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principle of operation of my invention together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In combination with an alternating current circuit, an impulse responsive device comprising a source of current, a charge transferring condenser, and a grid controlled discharge tube connected in series, a second grid controlled discharge tube included in a circuit shunting said charge transferring condenser, a charge collecting condenser in circuit with said charge transferring condenser and charged in accordance with the charge of said charge transferring condenser, means for discharging said charge collecting condenser when it attains a given potential, an inverter of the grid controlled discharge tube type arranged to generate alternating currents at a frequency controlled by the rate at which said charge collecting condenser is charged and discharged, a transformer connected to said alternating current circuit having secondary windings arranged to modify in response to the reversals of polarity of said alternating current circuit the grid potentials of said discharge tubes alternately for the purpose of causing said tubes alternately to become conducting thereby alternately charging and discharging said charge transferring condenser and progressively charging said charge collecting condenser to successively higher potentials up to the discharge potential.

2. A frequency converter comprising in combination with an alternating current circuit, a charge collecting condenser, means for charging said condenser to successively higher potentials in response to successive cycles of said alternating current circuit, means for discharging said charge collecting condenserwhen it attains a given potential, and an alternating-current generator of the electric valve type having a control electrode to fix the frequency of such generator in proportion to the rate at which impulses are applied to said electrode, and means for applying an impulse to said control electrode in response to each discharge of said condenser, whereby the rate at which said condenser is charged and discharged determines the frequency of said generator.

3. In combination with an alternating current circuit, an impulse responsive device comprising a source of current, a charge transferring condenser receiving charges therefrom, means controlling the charging of said condenser, means controlling the discharging thereof, a charge collecting condenser in circuit with said charge transferring condenser and receiving charges in accordance with the charge of said charge transferring condenser, means for discharging said charge collecting condenser when it attains a given potential, and an inverter arranged to generate alternating currents at a frequency determined by the rate at which said charge collecting condenser is charged and discharged, said controlling means being arranged alternately to charge and discharge said charge transferring condenser in response to reversals of polarity of said alternating current circuit and progressively to charge said charge collecting condenser to successively higher potentials with successive cycles of said alternating current.

4. A frequency converter comprising in combination with an alternating current circuit, a charge transferring condenser, a charge collecting condenser in circuit therewith, means for alternately charging and discharging said transferring condenser and charging said charge c01- 10 lecting condenser by an amount dependent upon the charge of the first condenser to successively higher potentials in response to successive cycles of said alternating current circuit, means for discharging said charge collecting condenser when it attains a given potential, and an inverter arranged to generate alternating currents at a frequency controlled by the rate at which said charge collecting condenser is charged and discharged.

ALAN S. FI'IZ GERALD. 

